2016 US Presidential election and US news

What if a Billionaire decides what is news?

20/6/2016

He who owns the media

Op-ed: Many in the media are worried that if a certain candidate gets elected our free press in the USA could disappear.

But does it even exist now?

Hardly a week goes by, according to some critics, when the media does not ignore important stories because the government or the rich want them suppressed.

Most would involve matters that involve or might involve national or international security.

They could even involve non-controversial events.

Imagine a horrible story about an alligator killing a little boy makes world news.

Within a few days a mother rushes to the aid of one of her children, its head in the mouth of a mountain lion.

She rescues the child, authorities come and kill the animal and a second nearby mountain lion.

The mother and the boy are rushed to a hospital in a nearby major city. Injuries are minimal.

The media reports the story but without naming those involved. There are none of the usual quotes of what it was like getting the boy’s head out of the mouth.

Several days pass and the names remain secret. The family releases a statement saying they appreciate the support of everyone. No names. No details.

Keep in mind that government employees were involved in the incident. A few news sites publish critical comments saying the mountain lions should not have been killed.

Doesn’t this sound like a national news story. Wouldn’t TV stations be fighting for film of the family?

Or perhaps it shouldn’t be assumed that good stories always make the news, at least not with any details.

Such an event did happen recently.

They used to say on popular American TV shows that the names were changed to protect the innocent.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-06-20/us-mother-saves-5yo-son-from-mountain-lion-attack/7524812
http://edition.cnn.com/2016/06/15/us/alligator-attacks-child-disney-florida/
http://www.politico.com/blogs/on-media/2016/06/report-after-election-trump-considering-media-company-launch-224423
http://www.newtekjournalismukworld.com/robert-weller/mind-manipulation-with-the-media-the-message

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Robert Weller

2016 US election news and other news from the USA

Bio

Worked in journalism, including on the Internet, for more than 40 years. Started as a news editor at the Colorado Daily at the University of Colorado, joined a small Montana newspaper, the Helena Independent-Record, and then United Press International.

AP hired me away in 1973 after a couple of years with UPI and I worked with them until 2008. Assignments have included being the leading AP reporter on the Columbine Massacre, bureau chief in Alaska during the construction of the trans-Alaska pipeline, and covering coups, wars and other events overseas for 14 years.

I was top editor on the AP news desk in New York during the last years of the Vietnam War before going to Alaska. From Anchorage I went to Johannesburg to cover apartheid. I spent 14 years in Africa, throughout the continent, and covered the assassination and cremation of Indira Gandhi.

Once back in Colorado I covered the Army and Air Force, Columbine, skiing, arts and the environment. Worked on both sides of the Continental Divide, Denver and Grand Junction.

My main interests are history and arts, especially classical music, theater and opera.

Graduated from William Jewell College with a B.A. in history.

In addition to my travels as a writer I was a military brat and moved around with my father and mother.

My wife and I have twins, who keep us up-to-date on new trends.

I follow events around the world and have a huge collection of bookmarks that include many overseas sites.

What if a Billionaire decides what is news?

Robert Weller

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